Recognising the internationally recognised respect, care and dignity of Senior Citizens, our government has very graciously and kindly allowed our senior citizens free entry at musiums, parks etc. I phoned my 80 plus years retired government clerk father and 70 yers old mother congratuling them on this and enquired how many times have availed this free facility. My father told me since 1962 his shifting to Karachi he has never ever been to Museum even once.
My father is 80 plus years. He had twice heart attack. Now he walk only a distance and sits down. He cannot go alone even to nearest market. Now that Government has officially accepted that senior citizens in their retired age do not have sound health, if it really in letter and spirit is keen to give them a real incentive then it may prescribe that a senior citizens for withdrawing his pension would personally attend the Bank or Post Office concerned one month and next three months his personal presence is not required. In those next months any of his representative could deposit usual pension claim forms and his pension would be credited into his account. Each month a pensioner draws his pension submitting a certificate attested by a Gazetted Officer that pensioner is alive. Once a pensioner present himself personally he be paid next three months on basis of fresh new such certificate and 4th months he be required to again personally attend the Bank/Post Office/Pension Office. This costs nothing but will give real relief to the concerned senior citizen in his old age. When Federal Ombudsman declared to remove discrimination between old and new pension, a high official objected to it and advised government to file a revision appeal. He was right because as per a recen item he today as retired is today drawing Rs. 1.20 lac per month as a rent against his one property only. There was not merely one, there are many more still present. Hence I am sure there would be many wonderful objections from bureaucrats to this proposal if by any remotest chance gets chance reaching to the table of appropriate authority.